Meixner-Prigogine scheme in relativistic transport theory

Abstract

Meixner-Prigogine scheme of linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics is reproduced for the first time within the framework of general relativity for static space-times. Heat and motion equations are built using two fundamental assumptions: conservation laws are true, and local thermodynamical equilibrium hypothesis holds. This is done introducing the heat flow four vector following the procedure used in the Meixner-Prigogine theory of irreversible thermodynamics, instead of placing it in the stress energy tensor (which is the commonly accepted approach for the problem). Further study of the transport coefficients and the structure of the transport equations here established will be left for future work.